Honō Izakaya
| Honō Izakaya | |
|---|---|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | June 1, 2018 |
| Owner(s) | Patrick Beaulieu Ariane Boudreau Thomas Casault Julien Vézina |
| Head chef | Jean-Christophe Comtois |
| Food type | Japanese |
| Rating | Bib Gourmand (Michelin Guide) |
| Street address | 670 rue Saint-Joseph Est |
| City | Quebec City, Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
| Seating capacity | 48[1] |
| Website | izakaya |
Honō Izakaya is a Japanese-style izakaya in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood of Quebec City, Canada.
History
The business opened in early 2018, and is owned by Patrick Beaulieu, Ariane Boudreau, Thomas Casault and Julien Vézina. The owners cited wanting to open a Japanese restaurant focusing on a different aspect of the cuisine, and differing from the ramen that is commonly found in the city, instead focusing on yakitori.[1]
Louis Philippe Moisan served as the head chef of the izakaya in its earlier year of operation. As of December 2023, Jean-Christophe Comtois runs the restaurant kitchen.[2][3]
In its earlier years the restaurant was walk-in only, but now recommends reservations.[1][4]
The izakaya's sister restaurant focused on ramen, Honō Ramen, is located next door. The ramen shop, which opened in 2021, has been listed by US-based food publication Eater among its "28 Best Restaurants in Quebec City," while also highlighting Honō Izakaya as a place worth checking out.[5][2]
Recognition
In 2025, the business received a 'Bib Gourmand' designation in Quebec's inaugural Michelin Guide. Per the guide, a Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Michelin praised the grill-focused cooking, singling out three dishes as house specialities: miso-marinated salmon, house-made chicken sausage and confit duck heart.[6][7][8]
The New York Times recommended a visit to Honō Izakaya in its travel write-up of Quebec City, highlighting its duck heart confit yakitori and Japanese curry as dishes to try.[4]
CBC and Radio-Canada food writer Allison Van Rassel described the restaurant as "accessible and unpretentious", mentioning the karaage and kakiage as favourite dishes.[9]
Montreal based culinary magazine Tastet mentions both the yakitori-focused food menu and the "unique cocktail menu" as worth checking out at the restaurant.[1]
Canada's 50 Best Bars Ranking
Honō Izakaya has made one appearance on Canada's 50 Best Bars list in 2020, at #29, before falling off the ranking in the next publication in 2022.[10]
| Honō Izakaya[10] | ||
| Year | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 29 | new |
| 2021 | No List | |
| 2022 | No Rank | |
| 2023 | ||
| 2024 | ||
| 2025 | ||
References
- ^ a b c d Tastet, Élise (16 September 2021). "Hono Izakaya: Japanese delights in Québec City". Tastet Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b Berne, Noémie (11 December 2023). "Sylvain Boudreau, chef of Honō Ramen". Le Carrefour de Québec. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Christophe Comtois". Radio Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b Isai, Vjosa (23 January 2025). "36 Hours in Quebec City". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Van Rassel, Allison (28 November 2023). "The 28 Best Quebec City Restaurants". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ "Québec's top eateries dazzle in first-ever MICHELIN Guide Selection". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "All the 2025 Québec MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmands". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ Cloutier, Elisa (15 May 2025). "Guide Michelin: Tanière3 obtient deux Étoiles et Québec est sacrée véritable capitale de la gastronomie". Le Journal de Quebec. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Van Rassel, Allison (9 June 2018). "Hono Izakaya : voyage au cœur d'une brasserie japonaise". Radio Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Canada's 100 Best Restaurants Lists". Canada's 100 Best Restaurants. Canada's 100 Best. Retrieved 16 March 2025.